It's been a busy few days and I'm far from done. I've been cleaning up as well as out in preperation of Fall and back to school. My mom is visiting us so I'm taking advantage of the free babysitting and sending everyone out of the house for a few hours so I can get the house in order and clean. Yesterday, I was able to go thru the girls' things and get rid of old toys and clothes that don't fit and aren't played with. Took a car load of stuff to Good Will. Another inspiration for getting organized is that when the girls go back to school, I can be ready to jump into the projects I need and want to get completed. I have a several sewing projects I need to get done. My Yule quilt needs to be bound and put away, I need to make the duvet set I've been wanting to get started since spring, making pillows for Aphrodite's Daughter and my mom wants a red/white quilt to match the pillows in her guest room. There's also the dark and scarry photo album closet I need to get organized. One idea I had was to go thru all my grandmother's albums and send everyone the photos of their families. Nana died a few years ago and I have all her books. I have sooooo many pictures and to get the pictures at least organized will help a great deal. Both the girls got new beds this week, so Alan and I are going to rearrange their rooms and put on the new bedding. Too much fun. The girls are ready for a change as well as the start of a new school year. Tomorrow, Lexi and I go to meet her new teacher, see her new class room and drop off all the supplies. Lexi starts on Monday and Jenna goes to preschool (her first year) on the 18th. Just getting what little Iv'e done the last few days has helped me breathe easier. I still have the gargantuan task of going thru my books and donating what I don't plan on rereading. I plan on keeping all the Harry Potter books and of course the Lord of the Rings, but all the other series, I just don't read as often as I originally thought. I'm not talking about my Witchcraft books--not to that point yet. I'm still exploring and finding my way so I'm not willing to pare down just yet. Tomorrow holds more household touches like getting blinds for a few of the windows and power cleaning the bedrooms but at least the house doesn't seem so cluttered. Getting a jump on Autumn tasks is a wonderful feeling. I'm a "nester" so making sure my home is in order makes me feel good. Frigga is my matron Goddess so she keeps me on task :)! Hope all of you are happy and healthy.
More and more, I've been feeling my inner Viking. I've begun my fireplace altar to Frigga and her Handmaidens, begun learning the runes and really seeking the Norse Gods actively. Last night, I attended a Freyfaxi celebration. It was wonderful. I've celebrated other sabbats with this group (The Norse Wolf Pack) though I'm not a member. The more I learn, the more I realize that I've made the right choice in the Norse Gods. Or rather, they've chosen me. When I began studying Paganism in general and Wicca in particular, I was drawn to the Egyptian pantheon. I loved all things Egyptian so it made sense that these would be the Gods I would honor. The Norse had other ideas. I've heard before that the Gods choose their followers but didn't really think it would happen to me. I was wrong. They can be very loud when they want to get your attention and going against towering Gods; one with a hammer and one with a spear....well, let's just say it's not in your best interest to ignore them. I know they would never hurt me, they just wanted my attention and let me know that They were my destiny. It makes sense. I'm a quarter Swedish and have quite a bit of German in me so, I guess, it's in my blood--literally. Still unsure if being a full blown Heathen is in my future. I'm very happy in my Wiccan ways honoring the Norse pantheon and They seem pleased too. Time will tell. At the ritual last night one of the things that was stated was, "From the Gods, to the Earth, to us. From us, to the Earth, to the Gods. A gift for a gift". This makes tremendous sense to me and falls with in the Wiccan practice of honoring the Earth and all things coming to us thru Her. I feel so jazzed. Autumn is getting closer and this August has the Sidhe Moon! Magick is sure to flow! The saddness that I've felt for the past week is slowly draining away and I've just decided to let the still-powerful summer sun burn it out of me! My attention is needed and wanted so I'll redirect my energy. Next celebration--Mabon! Autumn, here I am!
The day started off about the same as most. I had coffee, checked up on all of you then got to the business of cleaning. In some of the blogs I read lately, it seems like more than a few of us are feeling either stuck or restless. It shows up in different ways for different people of course, but we all seem to be spinning our wheels and maybe have a touch of the summer blues. It's not all that surprising. So many of us seem to come alive in autumn so it makes sense that just before Lughnassadh, it seems like we need a push. Well, I finished with the bathrooms and came into the living room to find the girls watching Charlotte's Web--the original Hanna-Barbera one, not the remake. I love the movie, so I sat down to watch the rest with them. A few minutes later, Charlotte, Wilbur and Templeton are at the County Fair and Charlotte sings to Wilber to help calm his nerves. It's been a long time since I've watched this movie though I remember liking the song. W ell, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The song, sung by a spider about the web of life (as it were) as well as the fact that it's sung by an animal to another animal. The reminder that everything is connected. It remined me what attracted me to witchcraft in the first place. So now, I'm all reved up and ready for Lughnassahd. Summer doldrums have taken off for cooler climes.
My mom just called. She lives several hours away but still likes to come visit about once a month. We're going to convert half of the garage to a play room for the girls but may add a convertible couch or futon for somewhere to sit. Alan was going to get started when summer began, but was hit with tons of overtime. Good for the bank accounts, not so much for home projects. Anyway, Mom doesn't want to stay in a hotel, she'd rather stay with us so she can spend her money on "her" girls. This works well for me, I can use her for day-care when she's here :). I'm not worried about her coming to stay. In our family the "fish" rules apply. Fish and family both begin to stink after three days! With the added use of the room as sometime-guest-room, I may have a sign made to hang on the door--Mooch Motel, when relatives check in, they MUST check out! We all have a good sense of humor as well as honor each other's privacy so I think it'll be a good (added) use of the space. I'll have Alan begin to make his list of supplies so we can be up and running by the holidays. Hope all of you are well and are busy making fun plans for the weekend!
Never thought I'd be one of those mothers who dreaded summer vacation. The girls fight everyday and I'm left counting the days til school starts. They tear the houe apart moments after I've put it back together and then wonder why I get upset. Sometimes I wonder why I willingly went down the Motherhood Path. Fortunately, those times are few and far between but must admit, this is one of those moments. The house is quiet for the moment. They're watching Hannah Montana or something. I've not meditated in weeks...I need to do that today. When my world is in chaos (loud and messy), I can't be creative and magickal. I get sucked into the black hole of frustration. I know it's not fair. They're young kids and it's what they do, but I have feelings too. Only 22 days until school starts.....I have my list of things to begin when they're safely tucked into their class rooms, organizing photos for albums, sewing the comforter set for our bed, making a quilt for Mom. It's what gets me thru sometimes.
Jenna will be in preschool but only for 3 days a week. I'll take it. She'll have a good time although, I'll have to deprogram her when she gets home. It's a christian school at a church. It was what we could afford. There's a new director since Lexi went so maybe the new one won't be so dogmatic. When I filled out the registration forms, I had to tone back my naturally smart ass self. One of the questions was, What's your child's concept of God? I REALLY wanted to write, which one? but I didn't. It's been my experience that they don't have much of a sense of humor about those things, lol.
I think I'll take advantage of the momentary peace and straghten up Jennas room (again) and work on my grimoire. Usually, if I can redirect my nervous or frustrated energy into something positive, I won't take out my frustrations out on the girls. They don't deserve it.
